The egotistical maniacs of the football

Good luck finding bigger egotistical maniacs than these guys

There’s a fine line between self-confidence and arrogance, and these guys crossed it light years ago.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

If you haven’t noticed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s planet-sized ego, you’ve probably been living under a rock. The Swede is one of the most gifted footballers of this generation; the problem is he knows it all too well. The ponytailed assassin has notched up silverware for every club he has represented over the years but more than his on-field skills, it’s his narcissistic quips that make him a pain to deal with.

“First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again, and he went to buy a hot dog.” – His summary on dribbling past former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz

“One thing is for sure, a World Cup without me is nothing to watch so it is not worthwhile to wait for the World Cup.” – The Swede’s infamous quote after Sweden’s loss to Portugal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Ashley Cole

To many, Ashley Cole is still one of the best left-backs in the world. He most certainly was the best back in 2006 when he left Arsenal for Chelsea for more moolah – earning him the name “Cashley”. An extract from his autobiography that justifies his inclusion in this list reads:

“When I heard Jonathan [Cole’s agent] repeat the figure of £55k-a-week, I nearly swerved off the road. ‘He is taking the p***, Jonathan!’ I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn’t believe what I’d heard.”

Jose Mourinho

Whether he’s asking his players to waste time by dropping to the floor or running the length of the pitch to celebrate, Jose Mourinho is easily the cockiest manager in the world. The self-proclaimed “Special One” has travelled and won in all the big three leagues of Europe and has now returned to Chelsea – astronomical ego in tow – to reincarnate the club into the juggernaut he once made them.

“Like me or not, I am the only one who won the world’s three most important leagues. So maybe instead of the ‘Special One’, people should start calling me the ‘Only One’.” – After winning Real Madrid the La Liga with a record points total

Nicklas Bendtner

Unlike the other three in this list who can most certainly back their outlandish claims, Arsenal’s bench-warming, cameo-nailing striker Nicklas Bendtner is not someone who lives up to the hype he generates. This season has shown that the Dane still has an ounce of talent left, but it’s his bloated self-worth that makes him far more intriguing.

“In about three years, I will be better than Zlatan. He is older than me and has now reached his peak as the top scorer in Serie A – but I have a plan, I believe in it and I am ready. Next season, I can finally make my breakthrough and then I still have two years to become better than Zlatan – and I will. By then I will be close to my peak and will be able to look upon myself as one of the world’s greatest strikers.” – In an interview with The Daily Mail back in 2009